The EU Nature Restoration Law and the Sustainable Use of Pesticide Regulation was published

The European Commission has published its proposal for an EU Nature Restoration Law and the Sustainable Use of Pesticide Regulation (SUR) on 22 June 2022. They announced cutting pesticides by 50% by 2030 as a Farm to Fork commitment. To achieve this farmers will be fully supported financially through the transition to sustainable food systems.

The Commission proposal transforms the existing Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive into a Regulation which will be directly applicable in all Member States.

A ban on all pesticides in sensitive areas will be applied. The use of all pesticides will be prohibited in places such as urban green areas, including public parks or gardens, playgrounds, schools, recreation or sports grounds, public paths and protected areas in accordance with Natura 2000 and any ecologically sensitive area to be preserved for threatened pollinators.

“The EU needs to change course on pesticides”, “the overuse of pesticides poses major risks to human health and biodiversity”. - stated Stella Kyriakides, the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety.

You can read more on the proposals here.